Chesterfield drug-user caught on CCTV during a burglary

A drug-user who was captured on CCTV stealing power tools from a summer house shed has been given a 24 week custodial sentence.

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Thursday, January 28, how John Paul Towle, 32, of Thorntree Court, Grangewood, Chesterfield, stole a Makita angle grinder and blades and a Stihl saw from the property in Chesterfield.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “The complainant spotted that his shed door was open and there were footprints in the snow.

“He has CCTV and it showed at around 5am a male had been looking through the window of his shed and he went into the summer house and walked out with a Makita grinder and a box.

“Minutes later, the defendant returned and reappears coming out of the summer house with a chainsaw.”

Towle admitted committing the offence to police and said the shed had been unlocked and he had sold the items on to buy food and drugs.

The complainant released a statement for the court which stated he wanted to see the defendant “punished in a harsh manner”.

Towle, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the non-dwelling burglary after the incident on January 17.

He also admitted breaching his bail by not adhering to a curfew on January 26 and for being found without his electronic tag on his ankle.

Defence solicitor Kevin Tomlinson said much of Towle’s offending has been linked to substance misuse and he wants help.

Mr Tomlinson added that during his latest offence the shed door had been unlocked and there had only been limited damage involved and the property had not been ransacked.

District Judge Andrew Davison sentenced Towle to a 24 week custodial sentence and explained he would receive supervision and support on his release to help him beat drugs.